Swedish electric vehicle brand Polestar has announced concrete plans to put its O2 concept electric roadster into production. Unveiled in March this year, the O2 electric roadster is part of the company’s plans to expand its portfolio to offer more exotic models. At the reveal, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath hinted that the car would go into production sooner rather than later, saying that it would be “irresponsible” not to put it into production at some stage. Once it is available for purchase, the O2 roadster is expected to compete with the likes of the Tesla Roadster that was initially slated to go into production in 2020, but multiple delays over the past couple of years mean that it is now not expected to be available before next year.
Polestar started life in the mid-nineties as an offshoot of Polestar Racing but is currently owned by Volvo. The company offers two production cars — the Polestar 1 luxury hybrid coupé that was initially introduced in 2017 and the Polestar 2 five-door battery electric liftback that was unveiled in 2019. The company has since also announced the Polestar 3 electric SUV, which is expected to make its debut in Oct. 2022. In addition, the company has teased the Polestar 4 crossover coupé and the Polestar 5 production Precept, which are expected to be launched by 2024.
Related: Tesla Model 3 Vs. Polestar 2: Which EV Is Right For You?
Polestar has confirmed that its O2 concept electric roadster will go into production in 2026 and launch as the Polestar 6. In an official press release announcing the news, the company said that interested customers across all Polestar markets will be able to reserve a build slot online from today. According to Ingenlath, the car is the “perfect combination of powerful electric performance and the thrill of fresh air with the top down.”
Polestar O2 Roadster Specs And Features
The Polestar O2 concept electric roadster takes design cues from the Precept concept that is expected to go into production as the Polestar 5 next year. Polestar has yet to release the full technical specifications and other details about the car, but it is said to be built on the same 800V architecture as the Precept. It will also use the same performance-oriented powertrain that was first seen in the five-door liftback. That means it will come with a dual-motor powertrain producing up to 884 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque. The car is expected to hit the 0-60 mark in just over three seconds and have a top speed of around 155mph.
One of the most notable features of the O2 concept is an autonomous cinematic drone that can be used to record driving sequences. The drone, which was made in collaboration with Hoco Flow, can reportedly follow the car at speeds of up to 90kph (around 56mph). However, it’s not immediately clear whether it will make it to the production model. According to Ingenlath, the O2 roadster concept was developed to reinforce Polestar’s image as a luxury sports brand, which the company has seemingly succeeded in doing.
Source: Polestar
